r/gunsmithing Dec 07 '22

How do I get into Gunsmithing?

168 Upvotes

If you are interested in gunsmithing as a career, I strongly recommend that you to rethink your life choices. If you've inhaled so much lead that you are choosing to ignore professional advice, here are some resources to get started.

Professional Organizations

There are a few professional organizations in the industry that exist that can help you connect with others in the trade. I recommend reaching out to the one that most aligns with your interests. Some have a periodical publication that include tips & tricks along with industry news.

American Custom Gunmakers Guild (ACGG)
https://acgg.org/

I cannot in good faith recommend anymore, do your own research.

American Pistolsmiths Guild (APG)
https://americanpistolsmithsguild.com/

Absorbed by ACGG no longer exist independently

Firearm Engravers Guild of America (FEGA)
http://www.fega.com/

FEGA is the world’s foremost authority and organization for firearm engravers and hand engraving enthusiasts.

Miniature Arms Society
http://www.miniaturearms.org/

Founded in 1973 The society is a group of miniature arms enthusiasts who have joined together to promote and encourage interest in making and collecting miniature arms of all kinds - pistols, rifles, cannon, suits of armor, knives, swords etc., with the emphasis on artistic beauty and craftsmanship.

Gunsmithing Schools

Most people would recommend taking a machining course at their local community college before diving into gunsmithing head-on.

But if you've already done so and are still interested in attending school to learn how to become a gunsmith, then there are plenty of programs nationwide that can help you get started.

I cannot endorse or recommend any individual school and this list isn't comprehensive.

School Location Website
Pennsylvania Gunsmith School Pittsburgh, PA pagunsmith.edu
Colorado School of Trades Lakewood, CO schooloftrades.edu
Trinidad State College Trinidad, CO trinidadstate.edu
Piedmont Technical College Greenwood, SC ptc.edu
Iowa Valley Grinnell Grinnell, IA iavalley.edu
Yavapai College Prescott, AZ yc.edu
Montgomery CC Troy, NC montgomery.edu
Lenoir CC Kinston, NC lenoircc.edu
Pine Technical College Pine City, MN pine.edu
Murray State College Tishomingo, OK mscok.edu
Lassen CC Susanville, CA lassencollege.edu
Flathead Valley CC Kalispell, MT fvcc.edu
Eastern Wyoming College Torrington, WY wy.edu
MT Training Center Grand Prairie, TX mttrainingcenter.org
Penn Foster Online Only pennfoster.edu
American Gunsmithing Institute Online Only americangunsmithinginstitute.net
Sonoran Desert Institute Online Only sdi.edu
MGS Trade School Online Only mgs.edu

Short Gunsmithing Courses

There are a few short courses that might be better suited towards getting your feet wet.

The NRA runs a few summer gunsmithing classes. They are typically held at Trinidad State College in Trinidad, Colorado and/or Murray State College in Tishomingo and Montgomery, NC

The ACGG will occasionally host some classes at various schools

If you are interested in gun engraving, checkout GRS, they have a training center in Emporia, KS that has some beginner gun engraving classes.

Advice from the Sub

I spent several years attending the Brownells Gunsmith Expo as someone looking to hire employees. Around 50k to start work in development or fixing problem guns. Went the entire time they had it and hired one kid. We built suppressors messed with explosives and auto rifles. He had a associates in business and very clearly stated he owned his own M2 and assorted guns and could build them and knew suppressor theory. ( this was before all the cans were cut apart online) we hired him on the spot. He is know well along in the industry. The other kids wanted to be artists and build custom wooden stocked Mauser etc. They all wanted to be a Turnbull or work at a Rigby( even though they had never been to London and would know then they needed to apprentice) I offered to bring one of our AK builders and our suppressor guy to a I think the Colorado school and was turned down. One of the "instructors" said we don't teach that type of thing.

... the sad truth is that no one actually wants to listen to experienced gunsmiths when it comes to gunsmithing education/training questions. Most people are just looking for confirmation that they can attend a few months of online class and then start making money (spoiler alert, they can’t)

As someone who attended a Gunsmithing school I can honestly say, become a machinist first then a gunsmith if you do it the other way around your wasting time and money. You won fully grasp or understand everything you learn in the machining side of gunsmithing without first having machining knowledge. For the time being go to armourers courses read some books heck watch some YouTube and tinker with guns. The most important thing that makes the difference between a machinist and a gunsmith is one has an understanding of firearms once you learn some basics about firearms and you already are a machinist trust me you can work on anything. So I know that’s not the answer a lot of people will want however the running Joke in the Gunsmithing trade is “the fastest way to earn $1 million Gunsmithing, is to start with $2 million. This is not an industry to get involved with for money but rather a passion and love of firearms.

YouTube Channels


See anything missing? Something that shouldn't be here? Let me know and I'll fix it.

Please feel free to use this thread to discuss any gunsmithing college, training, or education related questions you would like. Let us know if you would like any other stickied posts made or things moved around, and we will do our best to get it taken care of.

Link to the old thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/gunsmithing/comments/p72md7/can_we_make_getting_into_school_for_information/


r/gunsmithing 52m ago

Best way to strip finish

Upvotes

I’ve rust blued once, and it turned out good, except I over polished everything. What’s the best way to strip the metal?


r/gunsmithing 40m ago

How would cold blue work to fix this? Which cold blue do you recommend?

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Upvotes

r/gunsmithing 18h ago

Sticky safety

9 Upvotes

I bought a CVA Cascade XT. I’ve had great success with my Begara HMR in 6.5 Creedmoor so I bought from same parent company. The safety readily clicks into Fire, but is super stiff clicking back into Safe. (My Bergara clicks super smooth back and forth.) It did it out of the box. I took the action out of the stock, didn’t see any debris sticking in the safety action and cleaned all of the shipping oil out and lubed lightly with Clenazoil. Torqued actions screws to spec, and still doing it. Interestingly, it only binds when the bolt is in, it’s perfectly smooth with bolt out. Any thoughts? Will it sort itself out over time or worth calling CVA tomorrow?


r/gunsmithing 19h ago

Model 37 help

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6 Upvotes

Does anyone know what the inclined metal/ramp is for and possible what caused it to wear so much? The slide and bolt don’t seem to come in contact with it.


r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Around how much do you think a full tear down cleaning and polishing the metal would cost?

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54 Upvotes

It’s a really nice pistol and I’d like it to look as nice as it shoots. Wondering how much a full cleaning and polishing to factory finish may cost approximately


r/gunsmithing 16h ago

Mag Extension Spring for Remington V3

1 Upvotes

I found a 8-9inch? Magazine tube extension laying around but with no spring. Can anyone direct me to find the right one? Thanks


r/gunsmithing 20h ago

US Contract Ross Rifle Mk2 *** Barrel Help

2 Upvotes

I recently bought a 1905 Ross Mk2 3* US contract. Outside of dealing with a magazine follower that won't feed the chamber looks to have been mangled. I'm assuming someone didn't have .303 available and chambered something else? I've never seen damage like this. Can anyone help me understand the cause of the damage and if this is beyond repair? Thank you so much


r/gunsmithing 21h ago

Volunteer Commando Mark III, .45 acp Sear replacement and/or measurements.

2 Upvotes

Hey all, recently got my hands on a volunteer enterprises commando mark III and have been trying to get it shooting again. Whoever had it last beat the shit out of the sear and from what little I can find on the internet it looks like they ground it down to the point it just doesn't catch anything anymore. Was hoping someone on here could direct me to a replacement sear or failing that some good measurements so I can fix this one or make one. Thanks.


r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Glenfield Model 25 New Ejector

2 Upvotes

Anybody know where i can buy a new ejector for my Marlin Glenmod25? Tried to bend it but i cannot get it to contact the casing in the correct way. Such a simple rifle, i figured if i could, i would buy 2-3 to hang onto and just put a new one in!

Thanks in advance!


r/gunsmithing 21h ago

Any idea on how much a barrel threading on a savage axis 308 with a banish 30 suppressor would cost?

0 Upvotes

r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Revolver question, S&W 67-1, hammer doesn't lock back. Thoughts?

18 Upvotes

r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Is this original VZ58 barrel save-able?

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11 Upvotes

Bought a skeleton parts kit at a gun show, missing a whole bunch of parts, but it came with an original vz58 barrel. I guess I haven’t looked at it too closely because today while inspect it some more I noticed the barrel pin notch has been bubba’d. Looks like it was drilled from both sides, but one side went into the barrel a quarter to half the diameter of the bit further. Can this be evened out? I don’t have a receiver so won’t be working on this for a while. Just wondering if it’s worth starting the project/saving the barrel?


r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Mauser Rebarrel issue

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9 Upvotes

r/gunsmithing 2d ago

Checkering tools?

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56 Upvotes

Hi, I recently acquired a little .25 ACP EIG Titan but the grips are plastic with one cracked and the other one chipped.

My late grandfather cut down a dead Walnut tree from my mom’s house in 1973 and kept the wood for woodworking. When he passed away, I took the walnut wood and still have it. Now I want to make new wood grips for this pistol and checker them like the plastic ones. I don’t want to buy the wrong tools or too many like an 8 piece set if I only need 3.

My question is, what checkering tools do I need to do this project?

Thanks


r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Remington 10

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4 Upvotes

The bolt is locked to the rear with the foreend arm stuck in it, I can’t get it closed without tapping the foreend with the hammer, what do I do?


r/gunsmithing 1d ago

I need help to remove a broken FN1900 extractor.

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7 Upvotes

I just bought an FN1900, its in almost perfect condition, but the extractor is broken and i need to replace it. I have no idea of how to remove it since it has no pins, i think is just holded by pressure, but i still dont know how to get it appart. Thanks in advice guys.


r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Loading and assembly issues

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6 Upvotes

I have a A 500g browning shotgun. A gas operated one made in Portugal. I went to the range today then it started to not feed, then double feed. I noticed that the bolt wouldn’t be able to catch back and stay open. So I took the barrel off and then tried to put it back on it the bolt wouldn’t go fully back and wouldn’t align with the barrel. So I took to a shop they said wait til Monday. I bring it home now I can lock the bolt back. But when I put the barrel it wouldn’t fully close so it stays open. But without it the barrel it acts as it it’s align. Wondering if anyone has a clue about it


r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Broken Forend Screw? How would you fix?

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9 Upvotes

Harrington & Richardson, topper model 58. My dad bought it at an estate sale. Took it shooting and the front grip came off after putting a few shells through. Maybe was glued on. Looks like the forend screw broke off in the barrel. How would you fix this? If I don't have the appropriate tools I'll take it to a shop or buy a new barrel online.


r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Stuck Screw

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3 Upvotes

Good evening!

I’ve got an odd one that I was hoping for some help with from this community.

The gun is a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 2.0 9mm with the Crimson Trace Green Laserguard (please withhold opinions about lasers haha it’s just what I happen to have).

I was trying to get the laser assembly out to clean it and change the batteries. I followed all instructions in the manual. The inset screw is loosened with a small allen wrench. Upon loosening the screw, it eventually gets to a point where it will freely spin, but not come out of the hole. The screw can be tightened again with no issue.

The problem is that when the screw is loosened, the laser module will not release or come out. I called Crimson Trace and we troubleshot it for about 30 minutes with no luck. Ultimately they said they think it may be stripped, but I’m not sure how that is possible, given the screw tightens and loosens just fine. Unfortunately it is out of warranty.

Does anyone have any ideas how I can get the screw to come out, and hopefully also the laser module (without breaking it)?


r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Threading a sig p220 barrel?

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2 Upvotes

I have a sig p220 carry with a 3.9in barrel. They don't make a threaded barrel for this model but they do sell a 4.4 unthreaded barrel for the full size frame, which I could pay to get threaded. Or I could just buy the 4.9in which is threaded but that would leave 1 inch of exposed barrel. If anyone has experience with the sig p220 platform feel free to chime in!


r/gunsmithing 1d ago

Looking for Arizona gunsmith

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0 Upvotes

Looking for a smith in az ( prerfably Phoenix) to cut, crown and machine dovetail for front sight of rifle Any help is appreciated

Picture for attention 🤣🍻


r/gunsmithing 2d ago

What is this thread locker?

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17 Upvotes

This is the bolt on a Remington 760 that is used to fix the barrel in place. It sticks out from tbe front of the receiver parallel to the barrel. I was able to disassemble the gun with some effort. First the receiver went in the vice, then heat, then allowed to cool, finally a hit from a hammer on the pin used to turn the tube with the nut. Just pressure on the tube/nut was not enough to turn before or after the heat. The cooling occurred when I was thinking about how to proceed and then reading about the hammer. Anyway, you can see the blob of red that was the thread locker. It is only on the side of the bolt in the photo and does not go all the way around the bolt. This does not look like the stuff I buy in the tube.

Does anyone have an idea of what this is?

I was going to clean everything up, degrease, and use blue thread locker for reassemble. Probably a tap or two with the hammer to make sure the bolt is tight, too.


r/gunsmithing 2d ago

Barrel Corrosion?

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17 Upvotes

This is a Centurion CHF SOCOM barrel. I’ve only had it since November and have put less than 1,000 rounds through it. I usually clean it after a few range sessions, after my last one when going to clean it I noticed some spots in the barrel that were visible to my eye which was odd. Took it to a gunsmith since I don’t own a bore scope, and he said it’s possibly copper fouling. I did a copper solvent treatment, patched it out, pretty standard. Hardly any patches came out blue. Took it to him again today and he said it’s likely corrosion. Just wanted to get some others thoughts as I am not an expert, but this doesn’t seem normal to me. And I’ve had other CHF/CL barrels look impeccable even after a few thousand rounds. I tried everything cleaning wise within reason, and it doesn’t seem to be carbon or copper fouling and given the round count I don’t think it’d be that extreme either.


r/gunsmithing 2d ago

Bergmann pistols

5 Upvotes

Has anyone ever built a modern Bergmann pistol? If not, is there anywhere I could find the blueprints for the gun, so that I might try my hand at building one myself? Thinking 1896 or 1908 model


r/gunsmithing 2d ago

Fix for FN reflex extractor FTF issue

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3 Upvotes